Congress leaders, beware. A whole lot of issues, mostly local, may come to haunt the party candidate and leaders in the run to the Lok Sabha polls for the South Goa seat – considered a stronghold of the party.
As Congress traditional support base is hit by resentment over host of local issues, party leaders may have to face uncomfortable questions this time around. Take note, fighter bull owners and dhirio enthusiasts may not be the lone exception, bitter as they are over the Congress failure to honour the promise to legalise the banned bull fights.
While Christian toddy tappers are demanding justice from the Government on the fate of their OBC status, the traditional fishermen and other small time business owners would want the Congress to unravel the solution to their structures coming under CRZ. Toddy tappers have been up in arms over the Government refusal to include the community into the Other Backward Community category despite recommendation from the OBC Commission.
That’s not all. The Congress will have to grapple with the long-pending demands of the Scheduled Tribes – a significant vote bank spread across the talukas of Quepem, Canacona, Salcete and Mormugao. Rallies and signature campaigns by the STs from South Goa in support of their demands for job reservations and other pending issues have not found much favour with the Government.
On this count, the BJP hopes to reap benefits of the sustained ST agitation as BJP leaders MLA Ramesh Tawadkar and Prakash Velip were considered the face of the stir.
But, the biggest worry for the Congress is the axe hanging on the traditional structures inhabiting the coastline – right from Mormugao, Salcete, Quepem and Canacona. What has added a new dimension to the issue is the Government’s decision to bail out Cidade de Goa via an ordinance. That this move has not gone well with the Congress traditional support base is evident by the resentment brewing in the State and the State leadership will be called upon to field uncomfortable questions on this sensitive issue, which may snowball into a major poll issue.
The tourist taxi operators – inhabiting Salcete’s coastal belt – are also not too happy with the Congress Government’s response to their long-pending struggle with the tour operators.
The 6-lane and 4-lane highway proposed between Canacona to Patradevi and the failure to build bridges over River Zuari and at Talpona and Galgibag may also come to haunt the party as confusion persists over the alignment of the proposed highways.
No doubt, the Dabolim airport expansion plans may save some embarrassment for the Congress, but the question of Mopa’s future will certainly raise many a question.
The delay in protecting the State’s interests though a Special Status promised by the Digambar Kamat Government may leave the party uncomfortable, especially in the wake of migration into the state, threatening the delicate demographic balance.
Source: www.oherald.in
